It's the birthday of American labor leader John L. Lewis, president
of the
United Mine Workers of America for 40 years. He was born in Lucas,
Iowa, in
1880.

French architect Auguste Perret, who pioneered designs in reinforced
concrete buildings, was born near Brussels, Belgium, 1874.

It's the birthday of the French photographer Eugene
Atget who took more
than 10,000 photographs of Paris architecture, monuments, and people.
He
was born in Libourne, France, in 1857.

English poet and novelist George
Meredith was born on this day in
Portsmouth in 1828.

Naturalist Charles Darwin (ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES) was born on
this day
in Shrewsbury, England, 1809.

Today is the birthday of the 16th president of the United States,
Abraham
Lincoln, born near Hodgenville, Kentucky, in 1809. He grew up on the
frontier with little formal education, did odd jobs and studied law in
his
spare time while working as a storekeeper.

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Although he has edited several anthologies of his favorite poems, O, What a Luxury: Verses Lyrical, Vulgar, Pathetic & Profound forges a new path for Garrison Keillor, as a poet of light verse.
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